Nut marking device



pril 20, 1937. .L E. TRUNK 2,077,970 U NUT MARKING DEVICE i Filed June18, 1954 s sheets-sheet 1 A// if 9 /53 a Y Cj; i f4? /56235 Y 4% 2f 77m5756773?, 7/ 4/ April 20, 1937. J. E. TRUNK NUT MARKING DEVICE April20, 1937. J. E. TRUNK 2,077,970

7 NUT MARKING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1934 5 Shetsheet 3 Y Y lll a 7 v/7/\ 77 W3', l j

@iK-LLIlI/llllllllllllllll||lllllllllllllllllllllllll lum /76 y 257 /78/Z//f 5/57 W 250 iiiiiiiis .55 4-4 of Figure 3; In the forms shown, thepins of the sprocket 55 .Patente-d Apr. Zi), 1937 UNITED stares earneroie-FICE NUT MARKING DEVICE John E. Trunk, Newberg, Greg.

Application June 18, 1934, Serial No. 731,123

Claims. (Cl. 101-37) The present invention has to do with a deviceFigure 5 is a sectional view of one of the carfor marking or brandingnuts and like articles. rier belt bars through one of the cups, on lineThe problem of such branding is made difficult by 5 5 of Figure 3; themany variations in size of the objects to be Figure 6 is an end View ofthe printing rollen 5 branded, their uneven surfaces, and the fact thatwith part of one bar thereon 'Cut aWey t0 a SeC- 5 they are not regularin shape. Since they are tional View through one of the rubber diesrarely spherical they must be placed and held therein, 011 lihe 6 5 0fFigure 8;

in some particular position While being marked. Figure 7 iS an end View0f the printing and ink- The most obvious way of branding such objectsring frame with the end frame removed but inlo is to make an inkimpression on their tops as they dicated by dotted lines; I lo pass on abelt under a. printing apparatus. When Figure 8 is a plan view of theprinting and this is done the variations in size make necessary 'inkingframe; and a sorting of the objects to be branded or else Figure 9 is aView of the carrier belt ShOWirlg some way of compensating for thecomparatively details thereof. i5 wide variance. This necessity eitherincreases Like reference characters are used to designate 15 the cost orreduces the eiciency of the device. Similar parts irl the drawings andin the descrip- The objects of this invention are to avoid those tion ofthe invention hereinafter giVerland similar dilculties and are asfollows: The main SuppOrtihg Structure for the device A new and improvedmachine for marking is a frame 20, made of metal beams or other suitnutsand like articles not of uniform size and able materials bolted, rivetedor welded together. 20

shape. There are four upright pieces, 2 I, joined by hori- A device forplacing a stamp uniformly upon Zontal beams 22 at the top, 23 in themiddle, and uneven rounded 4small articles such as nuts. 24 et thebetteln, 0h the Tight Side, 25 at the top,

A marking device allowing properly for differ- 26 in the middle and 2laty the bottom on the ences in size and shape of articles to be marked.left Side, and CrOSS pieCeS 28, 29 aud 30, and 3|, 25

An eicient and economical branding machine. 32, and 33 at the ehdS- Theehtire frame may A marking device capable of operating at high bemounted on casters or Wheels 34, so that it speed. may be moved about.

A marking device capable of handling rapidly At one end of the machine,there is e hopper large quantities cf articles to be marked. 35, and etthe other e Seeking chute 36 having 30 A novel structure for carryingbelts for small tWO OutletsY 37 alhd 33, and 2f mOi/able Vane 39,articles. operated by handle 49 to deflect branded nuts or Ancveistructure for wading smaii articles ente other articles into one or theother outlet. a conveyor. Mounted above the chute 35, or at some other Anovel device for seating small articles in a Piece, may be e SWitCh bOX4i fOr Starting and 35 conveyor. stopping the device.

A novel inking device for marking rollers, The bottom 42 of the hopperdoes not extend A novel structure for printing rollers entirely to thelowest part thereof, but terminates A novel adjustable carriage andadjusting above that point. To this abbreviated bottom means forprinting and inking rollers, there is fastened, as by screws 43 or inany other 40 A novel structure for holding articles to be Way, 2t Sheet0f elasticeiiy fieXible material 44, printed, such as sheet metal.

A novel Way and device for presenting Smal] The eXble Sheet 415 eXtelldSentirely aCIOSS articles to a printing roller or device for marking. thehopper and fO'rmS et CODtiiluatiOrl 0f the bot- 45 Many other objectswill appear from the detem 0f the hOpper. At the Other edge 0f the 45scription of the machine hereinafter given. sheet eil, there iS atteehed2- heeVier piece 0f m2- In the drawings of the illustrated embodimenttefidl i5 e150 extending entirely aCrOSS the hOD- of the invention; perand forming a further extension of the ab- Figure 1 is an elevation ofthe right hand side hrevieted bottom. The niece 45 is heavy enough 5o ofsuch machine; to carry rigidly tail pieces 46 which are fastened 50Figure 2 is an elevation of the left hand side t0l it ih arly desirableWayy eS by bolts 41. of the machine shown in Figure 1; The carryingdevice consists of a continuous Figure 3 is a plan view of the samemachine; belt 48 comprising chains 49 at each side to Figure 4 is avertical sectional View on line which are fastened carrier bars in theusual Way.

chains 49 hold links 5| which are bolted to the ends of the carrierbars.

In each carrier bar there are a plurality of recesses 52 to receivearticles 53 to be marked. The recesses 52 are cup shaped, the particularconformation depending on the nature of the articles to be marked. Inthe present form of the invention the recesses are oval in shape becausethat shape best ts the nuts 53.

The recesses 52 are open at the bottom, at 54, as indicated. Into thisopening a small portion of the article 53 will project. The amountprojecting will vary slightly with objects of different sizes, but thevariation will be slight. The openings 54 may be shaped according to theshape of the article or instead, they may be shaped according to theshape of the mark that is to be placed on the article. In the presentinstance, the oval shape of the opening lls both requirements.

Near t'o' and below' the piece 45 and the tail pieces 46, the chains 49,supporting the carrier bars 58, are carried on idler sprockets 55,mount- Ved on shaft 56 which is journaled in bearings 51 and 58 mountedadjustably on the horizontal frame pieces 23 and 26. Bolts 59 and 68 oneach Side pass through slots in the bearing supports or in the framemembers and may be loosened and Ythe bearings moved one way or the otherto tighten or loosen the belt 48. The same movement also adjusts thedistance between the belt 48 and the hopper 35.V Grease cups 6|, or anyother available means, may b-e provided to keep the bearings oiled.

Upward and towards the middle of the machine from the idler sprockets 55are sprockets 62 and 63, engaging the chains 49, and keyed to shaft 64,whichis journalled in bearings 65, fastened, as by bolts 85, to the topframe members 22 and 25, on each side. The shaft 64 extends beyond thebearings on each side of the machine to receive other sprocket wheelsand cams.

Near the end of the machine away from idler sprockets 54 and 55 and nearthe top of the machine, are drive sprockets 61 and 68 over which chains49 pass carrying the carrier bars 58. These sprockets are keyed to shaft69 which is `journalled in bearings 18 fastened to frame members 22 and25 in the usual way. Shaft 69 is extended at one end to receive drivensprocket 1| which is keyed to the shaft.

Below the drive sprockets 61 and 68, and somewhat nearer the middle ofthe length of the machine, are idler sprockets 12, mounted on shaft 12awhich is journalled in bearings 13 'mounted on the frame members 23 and26. 'Ihe carrier belt thus runs on four pairs of sprockets, one drivesprocket, one driven sprocket and two idler sprockets. The path oftravel is upward from the iirst idler sprocket and from the hopper, overthe driven sprocket, over the drive sprocket, down to the second idlersprocket and thence loosely back to the starting point.

Near the hopper 35 and immediately above a part of the upward slope ofthe carrier belt 4-8, is a revolving brush of uniform cylindrical shape14, which in use is rotated so that the part nearest the belt istraveling in a direction opposite to that of the travel of the belt.'I'his brush keeps back any surplus nuts that may appear upon the beltand helps to seat the nuts in the depressions in the carrier bars. Theb-rushis mounted on shaft 15, which is journalled in bearings 16 and 11.The bearings 16 and 11 are mounted adjustably upon angular frame pieces18 aiorded for the purpose, attached to the two adjacent uprights 2|,and to the sheet metal triangular enclosing members 19 which serve toenclose the side ascending portion of the carrier belt. The bearings areadjustable to raise or lower the brush, in the usual manner, such as byslots in the frame or in the base of the bearing, not shown in thedrawings. The shaft 15 is extended at the left hand side of the machine,tov carry the driven sprocket 88, which is keyed to the shaft. A chain8|, passing around sprocket 82, which is keyed to the shaft 64 of thesprockets 62 and 63, turned by force transmitted through the carrierchains 49, causes sprocket 82 and the brush 14 to revolve when thecarrier chain is in motion.

Below the ascending portion of the carrier belt 48 and in position tosupport it if it should tend to sag are supporting slide members 83supported'by the leg members 84 and 85 through the medium of angle ironsand bolts in the usual way.

Above the horizontal portion of the carrier belt 48 between the drivensprockets 62 and 63 and drive sprocket 1| is a further set of brushes toadjust the nuts in the recesses in the carrier belt and cause them to beseated properly therein. The brushes 86 and 81 are flat and are mountedupon supporting frame members 88 and 89 with the ends of the bristleseither upon or adjacent to the carrier bars 58. At the end away from thehopper 35, frame members 88 and 89 are fastened, as by bolting orriveting, to a cross frame member 98. These frame members 88, 89 and 98are commonly L shaped in cross section, but the shape is a matter ofchoice.

At each end of the cross frame 98 means is provided either by the use ofangle irons or by bending one side of the L for a fastening by a bolt orpin parallel to the long axis of the member. By means of such bolts orpins 8| and 92, links 93 and 94 are pivotally secured to each end of thecross frame member 98. The links 93 and 94 are adjustably secured bybolts 95 passing through slotted holes 96 to links 91 and 88, which inturn are pivotally connected to top frame members 22 and 25.

The other ends of the frame members 88 and 89 are bent inwardly at anangle at a point just short of the brushes from the hopper end of themachine, and the inwardly turned ends are fastened as by bolts 99 and|88, to the bearing |81. A cross piece |82 is fastened to the framemembers 88 and 39 between the bend and the brushes. To the middle of thecross piece is attached a second bearing |83 in line with the first 8|.

Through bearings |8| and |83 but not extending beyond bearings |83Ytowards the brushes is a shaft |84 which is locked rotatably in placein the bearings by the collars and |86 placed on the shaft between thebearings, and secured by set screws |81 and |88.

On the outer end of the shaft |84 is a connecting collar |89 having anopening to receive the outer end of the shaft and a` set screw to holdit securely in place, and having an aperture at right angles to the axisof the shaft |84 to receive a pin H8. The pin ||8 carrying the collar|89 and va spring totake up slack passes between the ends 'of asubstantially U-shaped cam rider ||2 being held in place by lock nuts||3 or in any other suitable way. 'I'he cam rider |2 is not fullyU-shaped because what would .be

`the bottom of the' U bridged overto form a circular opening whichreceives rotatably the central part of a grooved wheel H4.

The grooved wheel ||4 is mounted rotatably upon an angularly disposedextension H5 of shaft H6, being held in place by a collar ||1 providedwith a set screw I8.

Shaft ||6 is journalled inbearings H9 and |29 which are mounted upon across member |2| fastened to main frame members 22 and 25. Boltingappears to be the most satisfactory way of fastening these various partstogether.

An end of the shaft ||6 extends beyond frame -member on the left handside of the machine and to it is keyed a sprocket |22 which cooperateswith a chain |23 driven by sprocket |24 keyed to shaft |25 to rotateshaft ||6.and cause the brushes 86 and 81 to be moved by the cammingaction of the angular extension H5. The brushes are Vgiven a forward andback motion, `the pivoted links 93 and 94, and 91and 38 allowingmovement in that direction, anda sideways motion, the. same linksallowing a` twisting movement. This complex movement of the brushes willseat in their sockets all the nuts on the carrier belt passing under thebrushes and borne upon by them.

f Shaft |25 carrying the sprocket |24 keyed thereto is journalled inbearings |26 and |21 mounted on frame members 23 and 26. Inside theframe member 23 at the right handside of the machine and keyed toshaftl25 is a pulley wheel |28 which is adapted to receive a belt |29V-shaped in cross section. The belt |29 is driven by a similar butsmaller pulley |36 on the motor I3! which is disposed at the right handside of the machine on a supporting platform |32 mounted upon a brace|33 connecting the frame members 23 and 24 at the right hand side of themachine.

It is at once apparent that any available form of power may be used tooperate the machine, and that the invention is not limited to the use ofan electric motor as shown. By a slight rearrangement any prime movercould be used driving the machine through a belt.

The right hand end of shaft |25 extends beyond frame member 23 andcarries keyed to it a small driving belt wheel |34 adapted to receive abelt |35 which may be of the V type. Belt |35 passes also around asecond driven pulley |36, a large belt wheel upon shaft |31 which isjournalled in bearings attached to the brace member |33 and not shown inthe drawings. Alsoupon the outside of and substantially integral withshaft |31 and the driven wheel |36,is a sprocket |38 adapted to drive achain |39 which in turn drives a large sprocket wheel 'il keyed to shaft69.

It has been found best to make the large wheels |23 and |36 and 1| of adiameter of sixteen inches, the motor pulley |39 and belt wheel |34 of adiameter of four inches, and the small sprocket |38 of a diameter of sixinches. Thus there-is a series of reductions in the speed of rotation ofthe various wheels and shafts connected with this part of the drivingmechanism. Except as here set forth the members ofthe pairs of drivingand driven wheels are approximately equal in size so that there is noappreciable increase in or reduction of speed of rotation. 'Alterationsin these respects would be in order if a different source of powerwereused or its speed changed.

The shaft 69, rotated by the whee11l, actuat'es the `,driven sprockets61 and-68 which-cooperate with the links "of the chains 49 and cause thecarrier belt to move.

`Under the brushes 86 and 81 and with its up- 'per edge bearing lightlyupon the bottoms of the carrier bars 59 as they are moved past, is astrip |4| of rubber or like resilient and flexible material clampedbetween strips |42 and |43 which are bolted to cross piece |44. Crosspiece |44 is mounted for vertical adjustment on the bottoms of screwrods |45 to which are fastened knobs |46 for easy operation. The screwrods pass through threaded apertures in brackets |41 and Y|43 fastenedto the frame members 22 and 25,

and are provided with lock nuts. Instead of passing Ythe rods throughthreaded apertures they may simply be provided with two nuts, one tohold the position and the other to lock the first in place. The rubberstrip- |4| serves to raise the nuts slightly in the depressions in thecarrier bars, thus aiding the brushes 86 and 81 in assuring properplacement ofY the nuts in the depressions.

The inking and printing apparatus of the machine is mounted, all but theink supply pump, between two triangular frame members |49, which areheld in proper relation to each other by shouldered tie rods |50, |5|and |52. The entire carriage thus formed is pivoted for verticaladjustment on shaft 64, one end of each frame |49 being supported bythat shaft.

The other end of thecarriage is supported by two screw rods |53 and |54which are pivotally fastened to the carriage by rivets or by othersuitble means passing through eyes in the rods. Fromk 'the fastening therods pass upwards through holes in frame members 22 and 25. The upperends of the rods are threaded and extend well above frame members 22 and25 and through a cross piece |55 which is supported above frame members22 and 25 by rigidly fastened links |56 and |51. Above the cross membertwo sprocket wheels |53 and |59 of equal size, appropriately drilled andthreaded, are threaded onto the screw rods |53 and |54, and bearing uponthe cross piece |55 support the screw rods in place. About both sprocketwheels |58 and |59 is a chain |66 which insures that if one sprocketwheel is turned to raise or lower the screw rod and the carriage, theother sprocket will turn an equal amount to raise or lower the other rodand the other side of the carriage. Thus once the carriage is properlyadjusted in a level position it will always remain level while it israised or lowered. To operate the twosprocket wheels |58 and |59, acrank handle |6| is fastened to one of them.

The printing of the marks or brands upon the nuts is done by a printingroller |62. The printing pads |63 of rubber or some other suitablematerial are set in depressions |65 in bars |64 which extend from end toend of the roller, the pads being fastened in the depressions by meansof an adhesive, or if desired, by other means such as small screws. Thenumber 0f depressions and printing pads in each bar is the same as thenumber of depressions in each carrier bar 59 and will be placed the samedistance apart. In the form shown the carrier bars have each fivedepressions, so that the carrier belt carries ve rows of nuts. Theprinting bars accordingly each have ve depressions and printing padswhich coincide with the apertures l54 in the carrier bars. A portion ofeach printing pad protrudes from the depression in which it is fastenedand on the protruding end is the stamp or design which it iis -desiredto .imprint upon the nuts.

The .bars |64 are mounted on the printing roller in `such a way rthat.the .lines of printing padsare separated by a distance equal to .thatbetween .the .apertures .in adjacent .carrier bars 150. Upon theprinting-roller |62 there .are fiat faces |.66 as many in number as thenumber of bars |64 intended to t thereon. Ihe reverse face of each .baris correspondingly flat and the flat faces of roller .and bars arecoextensive. The sides of the bars are substantially perpendicular tothe reverse face thereof, so that when the bars are in place on theroller there is a V-shaped ,opening between them. `Into this .openingAis inserted a metal wedge |-61 through which extends a socket headedscrew |68, :thehead thereof Vbeing adapted to lie flush with `thesurface of the wedge 4and to be turned with a hexagonal wrench insertedinto the socket of the head. Threaded-holes are provided in the roller|62 between the bars |164, and the screws are turned into these holes,wedging the bars |64 securely in place. Should one of the bars |64become .damaged or worn or for any other reason require replacement, thewedge .is loosened, .the bar withdrawn `and Vanother substitutedtherefor while the `roller is in place in the A.machine and withoutrequiring a complete dismantling of the roller andwithout requiring morethan a .few minutes time.

When .one of the rubber printing pads becomes defective it is merelypulled out of its hole and another inserted in its place after havingadhesive applied thereto. The same procedure is ffollowed when all ofthe pads are changed.

The printing .roller |62 is keyed to shaft |69 which is journalled inbearings |10 attached to Aframe members |49 at the end of the carriage.supported by the screw rods |53 and |54 and farthest removed from thatwhich is pivoted on shaft 64. The right hand end of the shaft |69protrudes through a hole in frame |49 and bears keyed thereto a sprocket|1| identical in size and l in line with sprocket |12 which is keyed toshaft 64, which `also has keyed to it the sprockets .62 and .63 whichsupport the carrier belt, ,so that the belt in moving turns shaft 64 andso drives sprocket |12 and by a chain |13, the sprocket |1| which inturn moves the printing roller |62. vBetween sprocket |1| `and frame |49is a gear Wheel -|14 .keyed to shaft |69. A second gear wheel |15 is inmesh therewith and is keyed to shaft v|16 which is journalled inbearings |11 vand |18, mounted upon frames |49. On shaft |16 betweenframes y|49 is a rubber roller |19. "The circumference of the rubberroller |19 is in Contact with the faces of the printing pad |63 .as

`each row of them is towards such roller, and

the roller is of such length as to touch Vall the pads.

Inside the frame |49 but at the left end of the rubber roller |19, athird gear wheel |80 is keyed to the shaft |16. This meshes with afourthgear wheel |8| which in turn is in mesh with a fifth |82.

Gear wheel 8| is long enough to allow end play without becomingunmeshed. It is keyed to shaft |83 which has also keyed to it a brassroller |84. The teeth of gears |80, |8| and |82 are deeply cut to allowsome change in the separation of the shafts.

Shaft |83 is journalled in bearings |85 and |86 at the end of an innercarriage |81. This end `is lfree except for rods 256 fastened to collars251 aow-,afro

and kcarrying springs`258 -which press downward .on the .carriage andupward .on 'brackets v259, bolted to frames |49, through which the rods256 also pass, .their `motion downward being limited adjustably :by nuts'i260 on protruding ends of the rods, which are threaded for thepurpose. A lock nut 26| is provided on each rod. The spring .258 urgesthe shaft |83 downward and the brass roll |84 into close contactwith'the other rollers |19 Vand v21| with which yit cooperates.

The inner carriage .|81 .consists of the links |88 which supportthexshaft 1,83 adjustably fastened to links |90, by 'bolts |89 passingthrough slotted holes |92. The lower ends of links |90 bear collars |9|a.coinciding ywith .holes in the links, and rod |93 passesthrough thecollar and the links .and is held vrigidlyby nuts |94 on the threadedends of the rod to two `brackets |95 secured to iframes |49 by boltsJ86. The entire inner carriage |81 is thus pivoted at its lower end.

The 'bearings |85 and shaft |83 as well as the gear :wheel |8| areadapted to allow an endwise motion to be imparted to the brass roller 84.whileit is 1in rotary motion. lThis endwise motion of the brass `rolleris provided by an arm |91, Ipivoted near its middle point by bolt |98 ona fulcrum 9| attached `as by bolts |99 to the .inner carriage |81. Atthe end of the brass roller I 84 and securely fastened, as 'by .a setscrew, to the shaft :atrthe end opposite that occupied by the .gearwheel `|8| is a grooved collar200. At the end of `the arm '|91 is aroller 20| which `fits into .the groove :20.2 of the collar 200, beingfree `enough to`bear von one side or the other of that groove.

On the other end of arm |91 isa second roller 203 which works in thesame Way in an angularly disposed groove 204 in a collar 205 which isplaced to rotate upon rod |93 and restrained from endwise motion by acollar with a set screw, or by a shoulder on the rod or some othersuitable means. Collar 205 lis caused to rotate through the medium of asprocket 206 integral therewith .and a chain 201 running over sprocket206 and over another sprocket 208 keyed `to shaft |16. Shaft |16 inturning causes collar 205 to turn. Roller 203 follows `the angularlydisposed groove and causes the arm |91 to oscillate, thus moving ltheopposite end of the arm and through the roller 20| in the groove 202 Aincollar 200 im parting an endwise motion to fthe brass roller. Thesurface of the vbrass roller |84 is in rolling contact 4with the rubberroller |19, and as the .two rotate the 'brass roller slides back andforth on fits axis. The brass roller 4| 84 and its gear wheel |8| areslightly smaller than the rubber roller |19 and its gear wheel |15, sothat only once in the course of lmany revolutions will any twoparticular spots'on the ltwo rollers be together.

Theifth gear wheel |82 is 'keyed to a shaft 209 which is journalled inbearings 2|0 mounted upon frames |49. In rolling contact with the lbrassroll |84, 'shaft 209 bears a felt roller 2| The felt roller and itsdriving gear wheel |82 are of slightly different diameters than thebrass roller |84 and its gear Wheel |8| so that the two rollers:present'to `each other la constantly chang- Ving surface.

Above the Y'felt roller 2| are ink drips 2 |2 which serve to keep Ithefelt roll saturated with ink. There maybe as many of these ink drips asis desired, but it is found best to 'have enough of them to keep theVink substantially uniform over `the entire `length of the felt roller.Where ve rows of nuts are being marked, four or five ink drips serve thepurpose. They consist of a cup 2 I3 and a spout 2 I4. The size of theorice of the spout determines the amount of ink that will be v5 suppliedto the rolls.

The ink drips are mounted upon a bar 2 |5 which is fastened, as by nuts2|6 on threaded ends 2|1 of the bar 2I5, to supports 2|8, which in turnare rigidly mounted upon rod |93 by means of collars 2| 9 and set screws226.. The position of the ink drips may be changed by turning the rod|93 or by turning the supports 2| 8 on the rod |93 after loosening theset screws 220.

Ink is supplied to the cups 2|3 in any suitable Way, but in the presentform of the device an ink pump was found to be satisfactory. The pump22| is mounted upon a cross piece 22|a attached to frame members 23 and26 and is of the conventional type. It is operated by ay reciprocatingrod 222 attached to a crank plate 223 which is keyed to the end of shaft64 and turns as the carrier belt moves. The lower end of the rod 222passes through a collar 224 rigidly fastened thereto, a spring 225, awasher, 226, and a crank pin 221, and its end is threaded to receivenuts 228 which hold the rod and a collar 229 in place.

The crank pin 221 operates a lever arm 239 which is secured to a shaft23| protruding from the pump casing. The lever arm is provided withseveral holes 232 into which the crank pin may be inserted for adjustingthe degree of rotation of the arm. The downward movement of the arm islimited by a stop 233 against which the 35 end of the arm hits. The stopis attached to frame member 26 by a bracket 234 and a bolt 235. When thearm 239 is stopped short of its lowest position, the spring 225 allowsfor the further motion of the rod 222.

From the side of the pump 22| a pipe 236 protrudes and to the pipe areattached tubes 231 which convey the ink upwards from the pump and intothe drip cups 2|3.

Directly above the location at which the print- 45 ing pads |63 pressupon the nuts in the recesses of the carrier belt is a roller 238 madeof sections 239 of soft sponge rubber. The sections 239 are in thenature of rings which are slipped into place upon a base roller 240which may be 50 of any desired material but should not be too heavy. Thewidth of the rings or sections 239 is a little less than the distancebetween centers of the recesses 52 in the carrier bars 59. They areplaced on the base roller 248 in such position 55 that when the entireroller 238 is centered above the carrier belt 48 each section of spongerubber will be in position to press upon nuts in the recesses 52. Theroller 238 is fastened to shaft 24| which is journalled to rotate freelybut without end motion in bearings 242 at the ends of support pieces243, which are set apart only far enough to let the roller turn freelybetween them without appreciable end motion. Support pieces 243 areadjustably fastened to support (i5 pieces 244 by bolts 245 passingthrough slotted holes 246. Support pieces 244 are attached to a rod 241by collars 248 and set screws 249, and

rod 241 is held by nuts 259 without end motion but free to turn inbrackets 25|, which are bolted 70 to frame members 22 and 25.

The sponge rubber roller 233 is thus held in position resting of its ownweight upon the carrier bars 59 and the nuts in the recesses 52 of thecarrier bars, as they pass under it, the mo- 75 tion of the carrier beltcausing the roller to turn.

The soft rubber sponge of the roller allows for any inequalities in thesize of the nuts carried by the belt and holds them all securely inplace while the printing pads press on the under side thereof andimprint the desired mark or brand.

A dust shield 252 fastened to frames |49 is provided over all ofthe'printing and inking apparatus except the printing roller |62, whichmust be clear to press upon the articles to be marked. A drip pan 253 islikewise provided, fastened to frames |49, under the inking and printingap paratus to prevent any ink from falling ontothe under surface of thecarrier belt and causing defacing marks upon the articles later placedtherein.

Upon shaft 69 and keyed thereto between the driving sprockets 51 and 68,which mesh with the chains 49 to move the carrier belt 48, is a cylinder254 upon which are projecting pins 255, placed to intrude through theapertures 54 under the recesses 52 into the recesses from the under sideof the belt 48, thus forcing out of the recesses the branded objectsseated therein. This forcing out occurs as the belt moves over thesprockets 61 and 68. The branded articles thus forced out of the beltfall into the sacking chute 36. The belt, freed of its load by theprojecting pins, passes beneath the machine and back to the loadingpoint.

The operation of the machine is clear. The nuts or other articles to bemarked are loaded into the hopper 35. The tail pieces 46 on the bottomof the hopper and the flexible bottom 44 and 45 are slowly vibrated bythe passage beneath them of the carrier bars 59 and the depressions and81 which seat them in their places, aided in this by the rubber stripI4! which raises them slightly to allow a readjustment. As thus seatedthe nuts project only slightly from the openings 94 in the bottoms ofthe. recesses, this amount of projection being fairly constant. Afterbeing seated properly in the recesses the nuts are passed between theprinting roller |52 which applies inked rubber printing pads |63 totheir under surface, and the sponge rubber roller 238 which presses ontheir top surfaces to hold them in place while the printing pads areapplied.

Continuing to the. end of the top path of the belt the nuts are forcedfrom their places by pins 255 and fall into the chute 36 for sacking.

In the inking and printing mechanism, the ink is forced by pump 22| intodripcups 2|3 whence spouts 2 I4 allow it to drip at the proper rate uponthe felt roller 2| I, into which it soaks. The brass roller |84 pressedupon the felt roller and also upon the rubber roller |19 by springs 259moves at the same surface speed as the felt roller but reciprocatesendwise and is of different size than the other two rollers, thusdistributing the ink on the felt roller, as well as upon itself, andapplying it evenly upon the rubber roller which in turn applies it tothe printing pads |63 as they are carried past by the printing roller|62.

It is obvious that in the construction of machines according to thisinvention various modications as to material, means of fastening, sourceof power, mode of power transmission and arrangement of the differentparts and the like lwill become expedient and such variations ,areincluded within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A nut marking device comprising an apertured carrier, moving brushesthereabove, printing pads therebeneath, and mechanical pressure meansopposed to said pads directly opposite said pads and above said carrier.

2. A marking device comprising a hopper having a movable bottom part, aconveyor having cup-shaped apertures in the top surface thereof andopening onto the bottom surface thereof, movable brushes above saidconveyor and approximate the upper surface thereof, resisting meansabove said belt conveyor, a printing roller below said conveyor andunder said resisting means.

3. In a marking device, a conveyor unit comprising a bar having openingstherethrough, cup shaped from the top surface of said bar and smaller atthe bottom surface of said bar than at the top surface thereof, theopening at the top surface of the bar being larger than the object to bemarked, and the opening at the lower surface being smaller than suchobject, whereby the object may be carried in the opening with its bottomsurface exposed.

4. In combination with a conveyor having depressions therein, androtative power supply means, means for seating articles in saiddepressions comprising flat brushes mounted on a movable frame, andmeans for moving said frame and brushes comprising a rotating shaft, anangularly offset shaft on one end thereof, a rider on said angularlyoffset shaft, and pivoted coupling means between said rider and saidmovable frame.

5. In a branding device having a vertically movable printing frame,Vertical adjusting and holding means for said frame comprisingnonrotating threaded rods upon said frame, threaded sprocket wheels onsaid threaded rods, support means for said sprocket wheels, a chainabout said sprocket wheels, `and means for manually turning saidsprocket wheels.

l 6. A printing roller comprising a core member having flat faces aboutits periphery and threaded holes between said faces, a plurality ofrecessed bars adapted to lie on the at faces of said core member, rubberprinting pads removably secured in the recesses in said bars, wedgeblocks tapered toward the center of said core, adapted to t between saidbars on said core member to hold the bars on the core member and havingholes therein aligned with the holes between the faces on said coremember, and headed studs extending through the holes in said wedgeblocks and threaded into the threaded holes in said core member, wherebyto secure said wedge blocks to the core and hold said bars in place onsaid core.

7. In combination with a conveyor having article holding means therein,means for receiving articles to be carried by said conveyor, a lip onsaid means and movable adjacent said conveyor, and means for moving saidlip, said lip moving means keeping said lip adjacent a holding means insaid conveyor over a selected portion of the travel of the conveyor, andthen moving said lip to adjacent a succeeding holding means in saidconveyor, whereby to load articles into said holding means.

8. A printing rollercomprising a core member having flat faces about itsperiphery and threaded `holes between said faces, a plurality ofprinting bars adapted to lie on the flat faces of said core member,wedge blocks tapered toward the center of said core member adapted tofit between said bars on said core member and having holes thereinaligned with the holes between the faces on said core member, and headedstuds extending through the holes in said wedge blocks and threaded intothe threaded holes in said core member, whereby to secure said wedgeblocks between said bars and hold said bars in place on said core.

9. The method of marking nuts which comprises the steps of arranging thenuts in selected angular positions in a selected path by agitating themfrom above, moving them along such path while sustaining them in suchselected angular positions, and marking the bottom portions of` selectedangular positions for printing, which comprises moving the objects alonga selected path, and agitating the objects by moving contacts with theupper portions thereof 1n a plurality of directions in a plane parallelto the selected path.

l1. A nut marking device comprising an apertured carrier, means abovethe carrier for seating nuts in the apertures thereof by moving contactstherewith, printing means beneath the carrier, and mechanical pressuremeans above the carrier and opposite said printing means.

12. A nut marking device comprising an apertured carrier, means abovethe carrier adapted to move over the carrier to seat nuts in theapertures thereof, printing means beneath the carrier, and means abovethe carrier and opposite the printing means for applying mechanicalpressure to nuts in the apertures.

13. A nut marking device comprising an apertured carrier, means abovethe carrier adapted to move over the carrier in contact with nuts on thecarrier to seat the nuts in the apertures thereof, resilient printingmeans beneath the carrier and adapted to contact nuts in the aperturesfrom beneath, and resilient means above the carrier and opposite theprinting means for resiliently applying mechanical pressure to nuts inthe apertures.

14. A nut marking device comprising an apertured carrier, brushesadapted to move in a plurality of directions in a plane above thecarrier as the carrier moves to orientate and seat nuts in the aperturesin the carrier, resilient printing means, and resilient nut holdingmeans, said printing means and said holding means being so positionedthat the carrier passes between them as it moves and being operable uponthe nuts after they are orientated and seated in the apertures in thecarrier to print upon the nuts from one side and to hold the nuts fromthe other side while they are being printed.

15. The method of marking nuts which comprises the steps of arrangingthe nuts in selected angular positions in a selected path by agitatingthem from above, moving them along such path while sustaining them insuch selected angular positions, holding the nuts from above againstdisarrangement, and marking the bottom portions of such nuts frombeneath.

' JOHN E. TRUNK.

